Zhi Guangji reigned in the northern part of the Endless Ocean. During the ancient times 100,000 years ago, he was one of the Five Emperors whose names resounded in the Great Void. After Ming Xin rose to the top, Ming Xi was no longer part of the Five Emperors. With that, the title Five Emperors had also disappeared.

The Sacred Temple rarely asked about the matters in the ten halls. After the Great Void ascended to the sky, the Sacred Temple was most concerned about the balance. As long as the balance was not broken, the Sacred Temple would not interfere. If the ten halls were weakened, the Sacred Temple would be even stronger.

For this reason, Zhi Guangji, the Black Emperor, dared to act with a certain degree of arrogance in the Great Void.

Zhi Guangji had been cultivating in seclusion and had made great progress. Today, when he came to the Xuanyi Palace in the Great Void, apart from snatching the owners of the Great Void, he also intended to announce with his actions the return of the Black Emperor to the Great Void. Unfortunately, his plan ended miserably today.

After Zhi Guangji removed the aftereffect of Lu Zhou’s attack from his body, he began to calm down. However, it did not take long before blood began to drip down from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. He was actually starting to bleed from his seven orifices.

Zhi Guangji took a deep breath. His eyes were filled with unwillingness, doubt, and surprise as he muttered to himself, “Why… does he resemble that person?”

‘The Hourglass of Time, his manner of doing things, and his thunderous attacks are very similar to that person who dominated the Great Void back then…’

At this moment, Zhi Guangji’s subordinates rushed over.

“Your Majesty!”

Zhi Guangji straightened his back immediately. With a wave of his hand, the blood disappeared immediately. It was as though nothing had happened.

“Your Majesty, are you, are you okay?”

Zhi Guangji had flown too fast earlier. No matter which angle one looked at it, it seemed like Zhi Guangji was running away.

Zhi Guangji scoffed and said, “I don’t want to start a massacre just yet. That Xuanyi Palace has the support of the Sacred Temple so we can’t act rashly.”

“Then, what about that person who fought you? He’s so arrogant! We definitely have to get rid of him!”

Zhi Guangji shook his head and said, “Although his cultivation is far inferior to mine, I can sense there’s another expert hiding in Xuanyi Palace.”

‘Expert?’

Zhi Guangji’s expression changed slightly. Then, he said, “Your Majesty is wise! In fact, when I was observing from the side, I also felt that something was amiss. Now that Your Majesty has spoken, it seems like that was really the case!”

Zhi Guangji scoffed again. Then, he pointed at the mountain peak he destroyed as he said, “Let them be complacent for now. If I kill them now, I’ll only be helping Ming Xin. I won’t fall his tricks!”

“Your Majesty is really far-sighted! Then, what should we do next?”

“Return to Ruo Shui first. When the time is right, I’ll kill all of them,” Zhi Guangji replied.

Zhi Guangji’s subordinate nodded. “I agree. I think we should act after five days. With the commanders’ competition, the Sacred Temple has no time to care about the ten halls.”

“No,” Zhi Guangji raised his hand and said with a straight face, “We need a longer time to think about this. Five days aren’t enough.”

Zhi Guangji’s subordinate asked tentatively, “Then… How about… ten days?”

Zhi Guangji continued to say with a straight face, “Five years.” Then, he added, “No one’s allowed to disturb me over the next three days.”

“Understood.”

With that, Zhi Guangji flashed away and disappeared from sight.

…

Xuanyi Palace.

Lu Zhou landed slowly like a feather.

Zhang He untied the restraints around Zhu Honggong and brought him to the ground as well.

Zhu Honggong wiped the mud off his face, ignoring the strange looks from the others, before he bowed in front of Lu Zhou. He said loudly, “Greetings, benefactor!”

‘Benefactor?’

Lu Zhou’s expression remained the same. He looked at Zhu Honggong and calmly asked, “Do you still have me in your eyes?”

Zhu Honggong raised his head. “Ah? Benefactor, what are you talking about? Not only do I have you in my eyes, but I have you in my heart as well!”

Lu Zhou said in a low voice, “What a glib tongue! Why aren’t you getting up?”

“Thank you, benefactor.”

Zhu Honggong rose to his feet and grinned at everyone.

Xuanyi was slightly stunned by this. He moved to Lu Zhou’s side and asked in a hushed tone, “This… Is he really Pavilion Master Lu’s disciple?”

Lu Zhou nodded before he sighed. “He’s an unworthy and wicked disciple. It’s really difficult for him to become a decent person.”

Xuanyi said, “No, no, no. A man must know how to bend and yield at the right time. To be a hero, one must be flexible! I think this kid is quite talented!”

Zhu Honggong gave a thumbs-up to Xuanyi; he was almost moved to tears by Xuanyi’s words. He said, “It’s still… Great Divine King Xuanyi who understands me best!”

As Zhu Honggong spoke, he walked toward Xuanyi.

“What are you doing?” Xuanyi sensed that the atmosphere was not right at this moment.

“Thank you for speaking up for me!”

Xuanyi felt a little regretful at this moment. Nonetheless, he still said, “It’s nothing.”

At this time, Lu Zhou pointed at Zhu Honggong and said, “You, come with me.”

“Understood! If master tells me to go east, I definitely won’t dare to go west! I’m coming!”

Since the master and disciple clearly wanted to talk, the others did not stay.

Not long after, a series of wails and screams rang from the hall along with thumping noises. It lasted for a while before silence returned.

Shang Zhang, the attendant, frowned and asked, “Is your master always so fierce?”

Previously, based on their interactions, Shang Zhang felt that Lu Zhou was very gentle and approachable.

Little Yuan’er and Conch nodded at the same time. However, they felt like something was wrong so they quickly shook their heads again. It was as though they had a tacit agreement.

Little Yuan’er said, “Perhaps, Eighth Senior Brother is just really touched after not seeing master for a long time. Moreover, master hasn’t beaten anyone for a long time now.”

Shang Zhang, the attendant, caught the key point immediately. “He hasn’t beaten anyone for a long time?”

Little Yuan’er placed her hands on her hips and said, “You’re really annoying! You ask too many questions!”

Shang Zhang, the attendant, realized he had almost exposed his identity again. He smiled sheepishly and no longer spoke.

At this time, Xuanyi said, “Order the Dark Guards to clean the place up. Today’s matter has to be kept a secret. If anyone disobeys this order, I won’t let them go.”

“Understood!”

Following that, a large number of Dark Guards went to work.

…

Inside the hall.

Lu Zhou stood with his hands on his back as he looked at Zhu Honggong, who was covered in mud.

Zhu Honggong touched the bruise on his face and winced slightly before he said, “Master, you’ve really misunderstood me! I work hard for the Sacred Temple to protect my life! It’s all for show!”

“For show?” Lu Zhou looked at Zhu Honggong skeptically.

Zhu Honggong nodded as he said, “I swear! I really betrayed you, I wouldn’t have come to Xuanyi Palace.”

“You don’t even know I’m in Xuanyi Palace,” Lu Zhou said.

“You’re right, but I know the two junior sisters are here,” Zhu Honggong said.

“Why did you come to Xuanyi Palace?”

“The Sacred Temple wants me to investigate what’s going on here. The Scales of Justice sensed some disturbance here so I was sent here. I didn’t expect to meet you here! I thought…” Zhu Honggong trailed off. He did not dare to finish his sentence.

“You thought your master died?” Lu Zhou asked.

“I don’t dare!” Zhu Honggong fell to the ground again. “You left Fragrant Valley with Fourth Senior Brother and the Qin Yuan, but only Fourth Senior Brother and the Qin Yuan returned. Fourth Senior Brother said that you were accidentally caught in the battle between the Unholy One and Emperor Tu Wei and fell into the abyss.”

“Old Fourth said that?” Lu Zhou asked.

“That’s right! That Unholy One is really wicked! He even affected Saint Duanmu at Dunzang!” Zhu Honggong said as though he was there to witness the entire thing.

“Oh?” Lu Zhou frowned.

“Saint Duanmu told me this!”

Lu Zhou said reproachfully, “Whether the Unholy One is wicked or not, it’s not for you to judge. All you do is listen to rumors, how can you achieve great things?”

Pa!

Zhu Honggong hurriedly slapped himself and said, “Master is right! However, I only listened to them, I don’t believe them at all!”

“…”

Lu Zhou asked, “Saint Duanmu… Are you talking about Duanmu Dian?”

Zhu Honggong forced a smile on his face and said, “Yes! After he returned to the Great Void, he took great care of me.”

Lu Zhou nodded.

During the battle with Tu Wei, he had taken advantage of a brief respite to protect Duanmu Dian. Although he had seen the tombstone that Duanmu Dian had erected for him near the abyss, and he knew Duanmu Dian was alive, he did not expect Duanmu Dian to return to the Great Void to keep an eye on his disciples.

“Where’s he now?” Lu Zhou asked.

“After Dunzang’s Pillar of Destruction collapsed, considering he had been guarding the pillar for so many years, the Sacred Temple transferred him to Tu Wei Hall,” Zhu Honggong replied.

“Tu Wei Hall?”

Zhu Honggong nodded. Then, he looked left and right before he said with a conspiratorial expression on his face, “That’s right. Master, he’s now working for… Seventh Senior Brother.”